DARREN Fletcher has admitted Manchester United's trophyless season was a "disaster" - but the midfielder is confident the club can challenge Chelsea next season.

The 21-year-old was bullish about the prospects of competing with the new Barclays Premiership champions next season, even though United are suffering the trauma of a takeover bid bitterly opposed by the supporters.

Fletcher played the first 90 minutes of the FA Cup final defeat against Arsenal, which represented United's last chance of silverware in 2004-05, but has now turned his thoughts to next season after the penalty shoot-out disappointment.

He said: "Obviously it is a disaster for Manchester United to have no trophies this season and even if we had won the FA Cup it would still have been a disastrous season in the eyes of many.

"But we are confident that we have got the players, the manager and the whole set-up to challenge Chelsea."

Spend

That, of course, is likely to feature new players coming in, although how much United will have to spend in the summer has been clouded by Malcolm Glazer's takeover.

Fletcher, however, remains prepared to fight for a regular place in the United line-up as they attempt to topple Jose Mourinho next season.

He said: "It is the same everywhere that there is change, with new players coming in, and I'm not going to kid myself otherwise.

"Players are going to come in and maybe they will be in my position but that is the challenge that is laid down by the manager to the players who are already there and for the new players coming in.

"I think Chelsea will also bring new players in. I think Mourinho has already said he is looking for three players to strengthen their team.

"They don't want to stand still. They want to keep progressing, the same as everyone else."

Fletcher, who is now concentrating on Scotland's World Cup double header with Moldova and Belarus next month, played the first 90 minutes in Cardiff before a hamstring problem meant he was replaced by Ryan Giggs.

He said: "Cardiff was one of the most disappointing days of my career so far. It has only been a short career but definitely the most disappointing.

"The only thing we can take out of it is the way we played but statistics don't win football matches. We didn't score and lost the game on penalties.

"It was unfortunate but I have to put it behind me and look forward to important games coming up for Manchester United and Scotland."